2026 Interview with Defensive Coordinator Scott Miller from rock Hill

 

Name Scott Miller

School/town Rock Hill High School, Pedro, Ohio

Position Defensive Coordinator

College Shawnee State

Please post something from last season that sticks out to you. It can be from a game, practice, or something funny on the bus ride to or from the game. Any moment that sticks out to you.
 

One of the positive things was when we played a team that was supposed to beat us and our defense played great, and we won the game. We had 3 interceptions, 2 for TDS. Two forced fumbles, 1 for TD, and 3 4th down stops. I was proud of the kids because they executed what we had practiced. 
As for funny, it's at camp where the boys sleep in the gym, and we wake them up to Travis Tritt's It’s A Great Day to Be Alive over the loudspeaker.  Now their parents play it to wake them up in the morning, and we play it after wins.

Would you share with the readers the places that you have coached?  Starting with the first job to your current position.

 

Fairview Middle School-Ashland, Ky 2010-2013 Defensive Coordinator, High School Assistant Coach 
Ashland Middle School-Ashland, Ky 2015-2017 Defensive Coordinator
Ashland High School-Ashland Ky     2018-2023 Freshman HC, JV HC, Special Teams Coordinator
Rock Hill High School-Pedro, Ohio 2024-Present Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator

What has been the best part of being a football coach?
 

The best part for me is forming a relationship with these young men and helping them become successful adults. 

What is the toughest part of being a football coach?

 Feeling that you haven’t done enough for your players.  Some of these young men have a rough life, I hate the feeling that I haven't done enough for them.

What type of offense is the toughest to prepare for?

They all have their own wrinkles to prepare for. A lot depends on the athletes they have running a specific offense. 

In a perfect world, what type of defense would you run?

 I love running the 3-4 defense. With the right outside linebackers, it is easy to adjust for pass heavy or run heavy teams.

Can you sum up what a defensive coordinator does, for the readers?

In the preseason, a DC gets all the drills and formations that he wants position coaches to do on a daily basis and makes sure the Head Coach is ok with them.  They have to make sure all aspects of defensive blitzes and coverages are put in by time the season starts. When the season starts, the DC watches film of future opponents and installs schemes that week for the game on Friday. After the game we watch film to make a film of mistakes or successes in the previous game. We then watch films on the next opponent and make a game plan for them and meet with other coaches on Sunday to go over the game plan. Repeat every week!!!
    
Would you name some of the most memorable players you have coached, along with what made them stick out to you?

  Wow, this is a tough question.  There have been so many that I can't mention just one. I have coached 2 teams from different schools that made it to the state championship, and the biggest thing I remember about them was how close they were. At Fairview, I coached all those guys from middle school up, and they were a tight group of young men who were extremely talented. At Ashland that team won the State Championship, and they are all still close to this day. They didn't care who got the recognition as long as the team won. 

I know this is a tough one and can only have an opinionated answer. When most Ohio high school football fans think of Southeastern Ohio area football teams, most seem to think of Wheelersburg, Ironton, and Jackson. What has to change for other schools to become more known?

  Well they have been successful for many years so they deserved to be thought of first. They have done things to make their programs successful. I know that Rock Hill will have their names mentioned in that list soon. We just have to keep all of our talent at Rock Hill because there are a lot of very talented kids here. Our Head Coach Tony Love has led one team, Ashland, to a State Championship already and I had the honor of being a coach for him. He knows how to build a great Culture within the team and how to do things the right way. It is an honor to coach for him and I know the kids love playing for him. It is really important that all levels are on board with the high school coach, there are some outstanding coaches in the Rock Hill Middle School and Rock Hill Youth Leagues. They have been in meetings with the high school staff to go over the offensive and defensive philosophies of what the high school is running. We have seen the benefits in this already as the following teams records show: Rock Hill Middle School UNDEFEATED OVC CHAMPS!!! Rock Hill, A Team UNDEFEATED SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS. Rock Hill CTeam UNDEFEATED SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!! OUTSTANDING JOB BY ALL COACHES AND FOOTBALL PLAYERS!!!!  We also have outstanding support from our principals and administration.

As a coach, and yes, a few have answered this one before. Do you feel that private schools have unfair advantages over public schools?
 

I recently saw where Alabama separated private and public schools. Currently, there are 6 states that have separated so it seems to be gaining steam.  


Where should the state finals be held?
 

I would love to see it in the Horseshoe. It is the center of state, and what young man wouldn’t want to play in the Horseshoe. When I coached in Kentucky, I went to the state championship with 2 different teams. One played at Western Kentucky, and we traveled 4 hours and our opponent traveled 30 minutes. The second team we played in Kroger Field and both teams traveled 2 hours to get there. The kids loved playing in Kroger field much better.

What does it do for the football program to have players invited to the season-ending all-star games?
 

I think it definitely gives the players something to be proud of if they were offered an invite to play in an all star game.

What is one rule that you would like to see change in high school football?

  Well, it just passed, but I am scared of the new NIL rule. Opens the door to a whole new world of recruiting.

Outside of coaching, what are you doing for fun?

I love to go camping with my wife, Alysa, and our children. Shalyn, her husband Chris, Faryn and her husband Aaron, and my son Cameron.

What is your current TV show?
 

Yellowstone, Landman, and Gold Rush

What is a skill or talent that you have that might shock your players?

 I am very good at one-handed catches!!!  Lol

 

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